Israel kills senior Palestinian terrorist in Gaza

JERUSALEM — The Israel Air Force killed a senior Palestinian terrorist in a pinpoint attack in northern Gaza.

Hithem Ziad Ibrahim Masshal, 24, who worked for several Jihad Salafi terror organizations, was involved in a rocket attack on Eilat earlier this month. He was killed Monday while riding his motorcycle near a Hamas training camp, according to reports.

Masshal has been a key terror figure, specializing in weapons and working with all of the terror organizations in the Gaza Strip. He manufactured, improved and traded different types of ammunition, specializing in rockets and explosive devices, which he sold to terror organizations, according to the IDF Spokesman's' Office.

Masshal also assisted the Shura Council of the Mujahadeen in Jerusalem, part of the Global Jihad network, and was involved in extensive terror activity against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, according to the IDF.

On April 17, Masshal assisted the Shura Council in firing long-range Grad missiles from the Sinai Peninsula at Eilat in southern Israel. One of the rockets struck a construction site in southern Eilat.

"Today we struck at one of those involved in the criminal firing of rockets at Eilat," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday following the assassination of Masshal. "I said that we would not ignore this; our action is in continuation of our policy. We will not accept the sporadic firing of rockets from either the Gaza Strip or Sinai. We will act, and are acting, in order to defend Israeli citizens."